Apparatus and method of explicit indication of call from emergency call centre

Abstract

A method in a mobile device includes receiving an incoming call. An emergency signal, associated with an incoming call, is detected. The emergency signal indicates the incoming call is from an emergency call center. Responsive to detecting the emergency signal, the emergency call is automatically answered, and information identifying the incoming call as an emergency call is displayed on the mobile device.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method in a mobile device, the method comprising:
 receiving an incoming call at the mobile device; 
 detecting, at the mobile device, an emergency signal, associated with the incoming call, the emergency signal indicating the incoming call is from an emergency call center; and 
 responsive to detecting the emergency signal, the mobile device automatically answering the incoming call, and displaying information on the mobile device identifying the incoming call as an emergency call, and enabling location services of the mobile device without regard to location service options configured for non-emergency calls. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 responsive to said detecting, enabling speakerphone capability of the mobile device. 
 
     
     
       3. The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining if the mobile device has speakerphone capability prior to enabling the speakerphone capability. 
 
     
     
       4. The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 waiting for a predetermined amount of time before automatically answering the emergency call. 
 
     
     
       5. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said information is derived from said emergency signal. 
     
     
       6. The method as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising:
 determining localized emergency information based on the emergency signal; and 
 displaying the localized emergency information on the mobile device. 
 
     
     
       7. The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the localized emergency information is based on a preferred locale configured at the mobile device. 
     
     
       8. The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said emergency signal includes a language-independent indication. 
     
     
       9. The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 prior to receiving the incoming call, placing an outgoing emergency call from the mobile device; and 
 responsive to placing the outgoing emergency call, enabling an emergency callback timer of the mobile device. 
 
     
     
       10. A method in a mobile device, the method comprising:
 receiving an incoming call at the mobile device; 
 detecting, at the mobile device, an emergency signal, associated with the incoming call, the emergency signal indicating the incoming call is from an emergency call center; 
 responsive to detecting the emergency signal, the mobile device automatically answering the incoming call, and displaying information on the mobile device identifying the incoming call as an emergency call; 
 prior to receiving the incoming call, placing an outgoing emergency call from the mobile device; 
 responsive to placing the outgoing emergency call, enabling an emergency callback timer of the mobile device; and 
 if the emergency signal is detected while the emergency callback timer is running, enabling location services of the mobile device without regard to location service options configured for non-emergency calls. 
 
     
     
       11. A mobile device comprising:
 a processor; 
 a non-transitory computer readable medium; and 
 instructions stored in the computer readable medium and executable by the processor to receive an incoming call;
 detect an emergency signal associated with the incoming call, the emergency signal indicating the incoming call is from an emergency call center; and 
 responsive to detecting the emergency signal, automatically answer the incoming call, and display information on the mobile device identifying the incoming call as an emergency call, and enabling location services of the mobile device without regard to location service options configured for non-emergency calls. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The mobile device as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 responsive to said detecting, enable speakerphone capability of the mobile device. 
 
     
     
       13. The mobile device as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine if the mobile device has speakerphone capability prior to enabling the speakerphone capability. 
 
     
     
       14. The mobile device as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 wait for a predetermined amount of time before automatically answering the emergency call. 
 
     
     
       15. The mobile device as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said information is derived from said emergency signal. 
     
     
       16. The mobile device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine localized emergency information based on the emergency signal; and 
 display the localized emergency information on the mobile device. 
 
     
     
       17. The mobile device as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the localized emergency information is based on a preferred locale configured at the mobile device. 
     
     
       18. The mobile device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said emergency signal includes a language-independent indication. 
     
     
       19. The mobile device as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 prior to receiving the incoming call, place an outgoing emergency call from the mobile device; and 
 responsive to placing the outgoing emergency call, enable an emergency callback timer of the mobile device. 
 
     
     
       20. A mobile device comprising:
 a processor; 
 a non-transitory computer readable medium; and 
 instructions stored in the computer readable medium and executable by the processor to receive an incoming call;
 detect an emergency signal associated with the incoming call, the emergency signal indicating the incoming call is from an emergency call center; 
 responsive to detecting the emergency signal, automatically answer the incoming call, and display information on the mobile device identifying the incoming call as an emergency call; 
 prior to receiving the incoming call, place an outgoing emergency call from the mobile device; and 
 responsive to placing the outgoing emergency call, enable an emergency callback timer of the mobile device; and 
 if the emergency signal is detected while the emergency callback timer is running, enable location services of the mobile device without regard to location service options configured for non-emergency calls.